Chrysalis

I’m so .... So hungry!

Perched here on the roof of the cavern, my claws dug into the cold rock there is only one thought in my mind.

Food!

All the delicious things I was able to eat in my previous life are spinning through my mind, chocolate, cake, steaks, bread, yes even bread! I haven’t eaten anything for two days now, the hunger is making my mind play tricks on me. The last time I saw a Croca-beast I swore it looked like a cow and nearly leaped at it from the ceiling!

The centipedes are looking and more like a tangle of noodles. I have to solve this situation before I get myself killed chomping on something I shouldn’t.

Two days. I have been planning for two. Whole. Days.

I have studied every aspect of this end of the cavern in excruciating detail. I’ve spent so long hanging upside down over the water basin that I nearly feel asleep and dropped into the water. That would be a swim I wouldn’t enjoy...

A welcome side effect of spending all my time this way has been my sneak has levelled up to four! Thanks to spending my downtime digging away at my hiding place my digging has also reached level three.

Mua HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I prepare, I grow, I hunger!

Sigh.

I know, these skills are pretty much useless, ok? I know. I’ll take anything I get at this stage. Hopefully, soon I’ll be able to conquer my first prey.

My antennae twitch suddenly. The target is close, I can smell them. Concentrating hard I try to focus my eyes, I’m currently positioned away from pool in a very dark area of the cavern, the snaking light veins along the walls are far apart here, allowing deep shadows to exist.

My chosen prey has been using the wall on this side of the cavern as a resting place, crawling down to the floor and over to the pool once each day to drink.

think I can

Wait, I see it!

clearly enough to identify exactly where so I couldn’t tell when it started

stealthy I scramble towards the darkness above the creature. My stomach

I won’t

moves fairly slowly, especially on the vertical surface, I get into

from my position. The large spines protruding from its back look so solid, as if made of stone.

now, my

hunter, the eagle, the tiger! I have to wait for my moment to strike, the

Now!

target. The liquid falls through the air at tremendous speed, splashing

the last few

turn and find

enters the second phase, the Lizard sees me approach and tries to turn and bring its fangs to bear, tilting the fearsome spines forward to cover as much of its body as it can. This is the wrong battle ground for you Lizard! You want to battle me here on the wall? With my incredible grip skill at level three, this wall is no challenge, also, I am nimble and light but you are heavy and slow, with your feet burning with acid

want to face me? Courting

battle, the first hunt! I cannot fail here or my life may be over, I have to

expect

hisses as acid continues to burn at its feet and now face. It won’t be finished from just this however, my

thrust forward with its fangs or spines before retreating and me snapping with my

of our fight vibrate through the air, bouncing off the rock walls and pillars of stone, shaking the air against my antennae. I’ve seen more than one fight over the last few days settled

is beginning to breathe heavily, the energy required to support its body here on the wall while

pitiful eyes! I have to dodge! A flash of inspiration strikes and I snap my feet further apart, lowering my body closer to the wall. To grip at this sort of angle takes all the strength my tiny claws can muster but it works, the spikes pass just

Chance!

crunching them closed on the head of my foe. It releases a pained

Lizard, you must become my

I gather my strength, prepare

tipped with claws scrabble and scrape at the stone